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Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "It is right that the Chancellor avoided calls to put up duty.

"Transport - and for most people that means motoring - is already the largest single area of household expenditure bar none, and pump prices have recently been on the rise adding to the pressure on domestic budgets.

"No one should feel too sorry for the Treasury. It still receives two-thirds of what we pay on the forecourts."

Campaign group FairFuelUK issued a statement which said: "Pleased that the Chancellor has understood the debilitating effect of raising fuel duty on consumers, households, businesses and the broad economy.